Danger to the largest water source in Belgrade

A public review of the Draft Plan for Detailed Regulation of the Makisko Polje Part is underway, with a Report on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Plan. The future of the area where the largest water source is located, from which the households of the capital are supplied with water, is planned without prior discussion about the development of this area, which is of great importance. A group of civil society organizations and experts warn that the future of the area where Belgrade’s largest water source, Makisko polje, is located, is in danger. Without prior discussion with violations of laws and regulations, urbanization of this area is planned.

We believe that this plan is in direct conflict with the needs of the citizens of Belgrade, especially within the supply of drinking water, protection of water sources and groundwater. A radical adaptation of the terrain, extremely unfavorable for construction, has been announced, with the conversion of land from agricultural to construction – commercial zones and mixed city centers.

The plan envisages the relocation of the “Bele Vode” drinking water treatment plant with a capacity of 600 l / s. According to the conditions of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, it is necessary to either move the warehouse with 6 tons of chlorine within this complex or suspend the development of such a plan.

The document also envisages the complete conversion of the existing agricultural land into construction, ie the reduction of agricultural land in public ownership, which now occupies 60% of the area, ie 425.38 hectares to zero! Such conversion of agricultural land is in direct conflict with the Law on Agricultural Land, nor does the documentation contain the necessary consent of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.

In order to achieve all this, drastic additional investments and works are needed. Communal infrastructure, new collectors and a sewerage network that would have to serve the entire complex are necessary outside the scope of the plan. Protection from groundwater and surface water is also necessary, which means, among other things, burying reclamation canals and filling 13.5 million cubic meters of sand, which is a cost of 95 million euros that is allocated from the public budget.

Although we believe that the entire plan is harmful and must be preceded by a broad public dialogue on the future of this area, we invite everyone to send their comments, since a public debate on the urban plan is planned for December 15, in which the right to participate will be granted only to those who have previously sent a remark.

Source: reri.org.rs

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